Swearing in of new Ministry - July 2016

Legislation au C2016G01015 In force Gazette

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Government House

Canberra   ACT   2600

 

 

19 July 2016

His Excellency the Governor-General directs it to be notified, for general information, that:

a)      he has sworn in as an Executive Councillor:

  • Senator Zed Seselja
  • Dr David Gillespie MP
     

b)      He has made the following appointments:

 

Prime Minister

  • The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP

 

Cabinet Ministers:

  • The Honourable Barnaby Joyce MP as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
  • The Honourable Julie Bishop MP as Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC as Attorney-General
  • Senator the Honourable Fiona Nash as Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government and Territories and Minister for Regional Communications
  • The Honourable Scott Morrison MP as Treasurer
  • The Honourable Christopher Pyne MP as Minister for Defence Industry
  • Senator the Honourable Mathias Cormann as Minister for Finance
  • Senator the Honourable Nigel Scullion as Minister for Indigenous Affairs
  • Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield as Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts
  • Senator the Honourable Marise Payne as Minister for Defence
  • The Honourable Peter Dutton MP as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
  • The Honourable Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
  • The Honourable Sussan Ley MP as Minister for Health and Aged Care and Minister for Sport
  • Senator the Honourable Michaelia Cash as Minister for Employment and Minister for Women


 

  • Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham as Minister for Education and Training
  • Senator the Honourable Arthur Sinodinos AO as Cabinet Secretary
  • The Honourable Josh Frydenberg MP as Minister for the Environment and Energy
  • The Honourable Christian Porter MP as Minister for Social Services
  • The Honourable Kelly O’Dwyer MP as Minister for Revenue and Financial Services
  • The Honourable Steven Ciobo MP as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
  • The Honourable Darren Chester MP as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
  • Senator the Honourable Matt Canavan as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia

 

Outer Ministry:

  • The Honourable Michael Keenan MP as Minister for Justice
  • The Honourable Paul Fletcher MP as Minister for Urban Infrastructure
  • Senator the Honourable Concetta Fierravanti-Wells as Minister for International Development and the Pacific
  • Senator the Honourable Scott Ryan as Special Minister of State
  • The Honourable Alan Tudge MP as Minister for Human Services
  • The Honourable Dan Tehan MP as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel
  • The Honourable Michael McCormack MP as Minister for Small Business

 

Parliamentary Secretaries (Assistant Ministers):

  • The Honourable Karen Andrews MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training, and known as Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills  
  • The Honourable Alex Hawke MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, and known as Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
  • The Honourable Ken Wyatt AM MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and known as Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
  • Senator the Honourable Anne Ruston as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and known as Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
  • Senator the Honourable James McGrath as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, and known as Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
  • The Honourable Jane Prentice MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services for Disability Services, and known as Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services
  • The Honourable Angus Taylor MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, and known as Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation
  • The Honourable Keith Pitt MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, and known as Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
  • The Honourable Craig Laundy MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, and known as Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
  • The Honourable Luke Hartsuyker MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and known as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister
  • Senator the Honourable Zed Seselja as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services for Multicultural Affairs, and known as Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs
  • The Honourable Dr David Gillespie MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and known as Assistant Minister for Rural Health

 

 

c)      He has also been pleased to appoint Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC to be Vice President of the Executive Council.

 

By His Excellency’s Command

Mark Fraser LVO OAM

Official Secretary to the Governor-General

Overview

The Australian Government has recently enacted the *Second Turnbull Ministry (Caretaker Version) Appointment of Executive Councillors and Ministers* in 2016. This Act was introduced to address the need for a clear and functional ministerial structure following the general elections. The objective of this appointment is to ensure the continuity of government and the efficient operation of the executive branch. The appointments were made by His Excellency the Governor-General, with the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull MP, leading the Cabinet and overseeing the various ministries. Each minister and parliamentary secretary was assigned specific portfolios to manage different aspects of government operations, from foreign affairs and defence to education and health. This Act, executed by the Parliament, sets forth the framework for the administration of the government and ensures the clear delineation of roles and responsibilities within the ministerial team.

Scope and Application

The document details appointments made by the Governor-General of Australia, which are primarily focused on the executive branch of the Commonwealth government. These appointments include the swearing-in of Executive Councillors, the naming of Cabinet Ministers, Outer Ministry officials, and Parliamentary Secretaries (Assistant Ministers). The appointments are intended to fill various governmental roles and responsibilities, ranging from economic and social policy to defence and international affairs. The scope of this Act pertains to the federal government, impacting the structure and operation of the executive branch at the national level. The appointments outlined in the document are limited to individuals serving within the federal government and do not extend to state or territory governments or any private entities. The appointments do not explicitly state exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but they are inherently limited to individuals who meet the qualifications and are selected for these roles by the Governor-General. The application and enforcement of these appointments are subject to the broader legal framework governing the Australian federal government, including the Constitution and other relevant statutes.

Key Provisions

This legislation outlines the swearing-in of an Executive Councillor and the appointment of various government officials, including the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Outer Ministry members, and Parliamentary Secretaries. The appointments are detailed in sections (a), (b), and (c) of the legislation. These appointments are crucial for the effective governance of Australia, ensuring that key roles within the government are filled by qualified and experienced individuals. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act primarily revolve around the responsibilities of the appointed officials. For instance, Cabinet Ministers are expected to oversee their respective portfolios, such as agriculture, foreign affairs, or health, and to make decisions and implement policies that align with the government's objectives. Outer Ministry members support the work of Cabinet Ministers and may have specific responsibilities within their areas of expertise. Parliamentary Secretaries assist Ministers with their duties and often have a specific focus, such as vocational education or immigration. These officials must adhere to the principles of responsible government, including accountability to Parliament and the public, and must act in the best interests of the nation. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Act may result in various consequences, although specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not detailed in this particular legislation. In general, however, breaches of the duties and responsibilities outlined in the Act may lead to disciplinary action, such as removal from office or other forms of sanction. Additionally, officials who engage in misconduct or illegal activities may face criminal charges or civil litigation. The specific penalties for such breaches would depend on the nature of the offence and the relevant laws governing the conduct in question.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.